Questions & Answers from the Webinar

Steps for Success: Your NPIP Biosecurity Audit  

November 2019

1. Is there any word on when/where Salmonella pullorum antigen will be available for purchase?

After a long wait with several challenges, the Pullorum Stained Antigen produced by Charles River

Laboratories has finally received USDA licensure as of October 23rd. That means that customers will

begin receiving the first serials now. It will take some time to build inventory, so it will not be feasible for

all orders to be filled this month. Charles River Laboratories will be contacting customers to confirm

orders and shipping as antigen becomes available over the next couple of months. In the meantime,

States have been asked to update their contingency plans in November to address the shortage.  

2. For turkey facilities, how would you recommend moving a tiller/ tractor between barns in below

zero weather? Disinfecting is challenging during the winter.

The details of a cleaning and disinfection plan in terms of frequency, product selection, etc. for your

equipment should be risk‐based (i.e., how risky is it in your area to transmit avian influenza from barn to

barn?). Information on cold weather cleaning and disinfection could be obtained from extension

agencies, turkey veterinarians, and other companies familiar with that type of management. The Official

State Agent’s role is not to officially recommend specific management for this challenge.

3. I would like to get a copy of the form you display to track poultry mortality and vaccination. Could

this question be added for your presenters?

This example is available here.

4. Should you transport in closed vehicles with tarpaulins?

Anything that can be done to prevent spread of virus will be beneficial. Ensure that your plan is in

accordance with any laws governing your specific area. Your specific plan for vehicles and transport

should be risk‐based.  

5. If someone is missing one item, like the annual training being overdue, is that an fail of the whole

audit?

The answer depends on the situation.

If there is a minor correctible portion, the Official State Agent would be able to mark “opportunity for

improvement” on the audit form and request a correction within a specified time, such as 30, 60 or 90

days. If the correction can be made and implemented within the specified time satisfactory to the

auditor, the auditor can give the company a passing score or “satisfactory” rating.

However, if a true “unsatisfactory” score or a failure to correct minor non‐conformances from the

auditor’s suggestions occurs in any of the 13 Principles sections (listed below) the final result is an

“unsatisfactory” audit.

NPIP Biosecurity Principles Listed:
1 Biosecurity Responsibility   

2 Training   

3 Line of Separation (LOS)  

4 Perimeter Buffer Area (PBA)   

5 Personnel   

6 Wild Birds, Rodents and Insects   

7 Equipment and Vehicles  

8 Mortality Disposal  

9 Manure and Litter Management   

10 Replacement Poultry  

11 Water Supplies  

12 Feed and Replacement Litter

13 Reporting of Elevated Morbidity and Mortality

(14 Auditing)

Even with an “unsatisfactory” audit result, if appropriate changes are made, employed and recorded,

the Official State Agent can perform another audit as soon as corrections are implemented and

verifiable.  

6. Is NPIP possible with flocks that free range outdoors?

Yes, this is possible. Please refer to the sections of 9 CFR listed here for compliance information:

General Provisions for All Participants:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgibin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=d6a32d99f30ffd5f9823c6d746e0100e&r=P

ART&n=9y1.0.1.7.63#se9.1.145_14  

Special Provisions for All Participants:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgibin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=d6a32d99f30ffd5f9823c6d746e0100e&r=P

ART&n=9y1.0.1.7.63#se9.1.145_15

Special Provisions for All Hatcheries:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgibin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=d6a32d99f30ffd5f9823c6d746e0100e&r=P

ART&n=9y1.0.1.7.63#se9.1.145_16

Standard C:

http://www.poultryimprovement.org/documents/ProgramStandardsJanuary2017.pdf  

The official determination of flock participation has to satisfy the OSA and pass their inspection.   

7. Do the Audits conducted by PDA in 2018 qualify as an NPIP compliant audit?

The Pennsylvania OSA should be contacted. In general, OSAs do a lot of different audits with the

participants. The NPIP Biosecurity Principles Audit is an example of one type of audit. The participant

should be informed of the purpose of the audit and then also receive a copy of the audit result.

8. If your plan was submitted to a State Department of Ag (PA) and reviewed and audited at the state

level does that meet the requirements for USDA NPIP auditing?
The auditing is done at the State level (the NPIP OSA) for that state. The results are submitted to the

National NPIP office, which is a part of USDA. The participants should receive a copy of the audit results.   

9. Could you describe the animal welfare form? There are many animal welfare programs that include

some of the principles described in this talk.

An example of an animal welfare form is available here. Some companies are involved in different types

of programs, such as FDA Egg Rule, Animal Welfare programs, etc. with several separate audits. Within

your biosecurity plan, you can reference other parts of these programs already in place that satisfy

requirements for these other entities.